Luke 1

Introduction

1Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the things #1:1 Or on which there is full convictionaccomplished among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning #1:2 Lit becamewere eyewitnesses and #1:2 Or ministersservants of the #1:2 I.e., gospelword, 3it seemed fitting to me as well, having #1:3 Or followedinvestigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the #1:4 Lit wordsthings you have been #1:4 Or orally instructed intaught.

John the Baptist’s Birth Foretold

5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of #1:5 Gr AbiaAbijah; and he had a wife #1:5 I.e., of priestly descentfrom the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in #1:7 Lit daysyears.

8Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear #1:12 Lit fell upongripped him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall #1:13 Lit call his namename him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit #1:15 Lit still from hiswhile still in his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her #1:18 Lit daysyears.” 19The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who #1:19 Lit stand besidestands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

21And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he repeatedly #1:22 Possibly gesturing or nodding to themmade signs to them, and remained speechless. 23When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home.

24Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself #1:24 Or hiddenin seclusion for five months, saying, 25“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among people.”

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin #1:27 Unlike engagement, a betrothed couple was considered married, but did not yet live togetherbetrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the #1:27 Lit housedescendants of David; and the virgin’s name was #1:27 Gr Mariam, Heb Miriam; so throughout LukeMary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord #1:28 Or beis with you.” 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I #1:34 Lit do not know a manam a virgin?” 35The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the #1:35 Lit the holy One fatheredholy Child will be called the Son of God. 36And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and #1:36 Lit this is the sixth month for her whoshe who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39Now #1:39 Lit in these daysat this time Mary set out and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And #1:43 Lit from where this to mehow has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45And blessed is she who #1:45 Or believed, because there will bebelieved that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her #1:45 Lit fromby the Lord.”

Mary’s Song: The Magnificat

46And Mary said:

“My soul #1:46 Lit makes greatexalts the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;

For behold, from now on all generations will #1:48 Or considercall me blessed.

49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

50“And His mercy is to generation #1:50 Lit andafter generation

Toward those who fear Him.

51“He has done #1:51 Lit mightmighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the #1:51 Lit thought, attitudethoughts of their hearts.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53“He has filled the hungry with good things,

And sent the rich away empty-handed.

54“He has given help to His servant Israel,

# 1:54 Lit So as to remember In remembrance of His mercy,

55Just as He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his #1:55 Lit seeddescendants forever.”

56Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

John the Baptist Is Born

57Now the time #1:57 Lit was fulfilledhad come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had #1:58 Lit magnified His mercy with herdisplayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

59And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, #1:59 Lit after the name ofafter his father. 60And yet his mother responded and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62And they #1:62 I.e., gestured or noddedmade signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote #1:63 Lit sayingas follows, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God. 65And fear came on all those who lived around them; and all these matters were being talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:

68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David—

70Just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times—

71 # 1:71 Or Deliverance Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us;

72To show mercy to our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham,

74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Would serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

76“And you, child, also will be called the prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

77To give His people the knowledge of salvation

# 1:77 Or Consisting in By the forgiveness of their sins,

78Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80Now the child grew and was becoming strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Currently Selected:

Luke 1: NASB2020

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE® NASB®

A Corporation Not for Profit

La Habra, CA

www.lockman.org

Learn More About New American Standard Bible - NASB

Luke 1

Introduction

1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or been surely believed among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called#1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has come to his people and redeemed them.

69He has raised up a horn#1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king. of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David

70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

71salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us—

72to show mercy to our ancestors

and to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

and to enable us to serve him without fear

75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit#1:80 Or in the Spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Learn More About New International Version